Texas Hunting Forum

What the hell should I do?!?!

Posted By: Willy

What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 07:37 PM

Alright y'all. I am stumped and need help on killing a gobbler. Here is the scenario. Hunting near Ballinger, Tx. on 200 acres. back end of the place border is a creek. About 30-40 turkeys roosting on a back field. The field is about 13 acres total and they roost on almost the entire perimeter. My problem is there is not one place to sit in the middle of the field except a telephone pole. These turkeys come off the roost and go across the creek to other fields. They are also heavily henned up and are hard to get to come in. I am afraid that if I try to get to the middle of the field or too close to on the tree line where they roost I will get busted.

What would yall do or what do you recommend I do? I have tried sitting back and calling in. Should I set up decoys?
I am severely stumped on this one.
Posted By: kmon11

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 07:53 PM

Try the decoys and how long are you staying in that location calling. Quite a few gobblers have died during the day between 9:30 and 2pm. One of my favorite times to hunt spring turkey especially those henned up gobblers. They get tired of the ones they have been with for hours and go trying to find more hens.
Posted By: Txduckman

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 08:02 PM

Are you only hunting first light? I never hunt the roost. Hunt 9 to 5. Take a break in the middle for lunch. Most of ours are taken 10 to 2 by calling them in. But you do need to be in their area. Should have tracks on the roads and trails but you probably haven't received any rain. Set a popup in the middle of the field. They don't care.
Posted By: sqiggy

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 08:52 PM

First, no need to get in the middle of the field. Just get on the edge. If there isn't a sufficent amount of cover, make a brush blind. Then, slip in while it's still dark, set up a couple of decoys and maybe one will fly down to them when he comes off roost. If that don't work, like others said, hunt later in day.
Posted By: Gamblinman

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 09:46 PM

I find a blind to be very useful on field birds. Use the pole as a back rest and drag some brush to break up your outline. A pop up blind is even better. Turkeys don't care.
Posted By: Halfadozen

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/10/18 11:11 PM

By means am I no expert, but set up in your field the afternoon before roost and make some calls just to let them know there are other birds out there other than across the fence. And then see what happens the next morning. If the real hens are still moving over to the other property give a few more calls to let them know again there are girls in your field.
Posted By: howl

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/11/18 12:47 AM

Reminds me of the fella who dug a hole in the middle of a field where a gobbler strutted. I don't see how you're supposed to call a turkey into a field where they can plainly see there is no turkey.

I don't believe in dekes, so I'd probably get in amongst them in the dark and shoot after they flew down. You can get right under a gobbler in the dark if you are able to find your way quietly without much light. Just a sliver between your fingers over the flashlight, directed at the ground won't spook them.

Other option is flush them off the roost away from where they want to go and kill them when they come back by. I'll do that if hens are close to a gobbler. Run the hens off and kill the gobbler when it follows after. Cackle and cutt to cover over the putts. It works, but you really only get one chance before they roost elsewhere.
Posted By: Wilhunt

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/11/18 12:56 AM

Set up decoys, spread some corn around, use the pop up blind and do your calling. Don't get discouraged.
Posted By: Willy

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/11/18 01:05 AM

Thanks for the help guys! I will probably try to sneak in there super early and drag some brush with me and set up decoys and sit up next to that telephone pole. I think I can get one in then. fingers crossed and I will let y'all know how it goes this weekend!
Posted By: Gamblinman

Re: What the hell should I do?!?! - 04/11/18 07:35 PM

Go in quiet and come out heavy!!
© 2024 Texas Hunting Forum